JPH0466773B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a paper feed mechanism that feeds single sheets one by one to a recording position of a recording device, and in particular, the present invention relates to a paper feeding mechanism that feeds cut sheets one by one to a recording position of a recording device, and in particular, to remove static electricity generated due to friction of sheets. It is related to the structure.

[Prior Art] A paper feeding mechanism generally has a roller in contact with the upper surface of the cut sheets stored in a stack, and the sheets are fed out one by one by rotation of the roller.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the paper feed mechanism described above, when the paper is fed out, there is always friction between the paper and the remaining paper, and there is also friction between the paper and the side wall of the paper path toward the recording position. However, due to friction, static electricity is generated. If the paper approaches the electronic circuitry inside the recording device, or if static electricity accumulates inside the printer via the paper,
This static electricity caused problems such as electronic circuits malfunctioning. In particular, when sheets of paper are stacked, high static electricity is accumulated due to repeated feeding operations, which is highly likely to cause problems.

Further, a configuration in which the guide plate that partitions the paper path is formed of a conductive member is also conceivable. However, even with such a configuration, there are the following problems.

When the above technique is applied to a configuration in which the paper feeding mechanism is detachably attached to the recording apparatus, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained unless the conductive member is grounded to the main body. For this purpose, it is necessary to connect the recording device and the paper feeding mechanism using conductive wires, but as the number of conductive wires that need to be connected increases, there is a problem in that the handling becomes troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a configuration that solves the above problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 1 provides a storage device that is configured separately from the main body of the recording device and stores slip sheets in a stacked state. part and the top surface of the cut sheet, and touch the cut sheet once.
A feed roller that feeds sheets one by one, a manual feed slot into which manually fed cut sheets can be inserted, and a manual feed slot that is electrically connected to the main body of the recording device and that is connected to the sheet stocked in the storage unit and manually feeds the cut sheets. In a paper feeding mechanism of a recording device, the paper feed mechanism includes a switch that detects which of the cut sheets inserted from the insertion slot is fed, and a conductive grounding member that can come into contact with the cut sheets;
By electrically connecting one terminal of the switch, the grounding member and one terminal of the switch are electrically connected to the grounding terminal of the recording apparatus main body via a common conductive wire.

Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 2,
In addition to the configuration of the invention as set forth in claim 1 above, the grounding member is attached to a side where the cut sheet curves and swells downstream of the delivery roller. do.

[Function] Therefore, in the invention described in claim 1, static electricity is removed from the cut sheet as the cut sheet sent out by the delivery roller comes into contact with the ground member. In addition, the connection wire that connects the paper feeding mechanism, which is separate from the recording device, and the recording device main body is the one that is connected to one end of the switch and the one that is used to ground the ground member. , only a small number of pieces are required.

Further, the invention as set forth in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention as set forth in claim 1 above, brings the leading edge of the cut sheet sent out by the delivery roller into contact with a stopper. By doing so, it is possible to position the leading edge of the cut paper at a predetermined position relative to the recording device, and maintain a constant recording start position from the leading edge of the cut paper. By contacting the paper, static electricity is reliably removed from the cut paper even if the paper is stiff, such as cardboard, without causing a contact error.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Now, in the printer of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a platen 2 is rotatably supported within the printer frame by platen shafts 2a protruding from both ends thereof, and a printing paper PS is wound around the outer periphery of the platen 2. I'm starting to be able to support it. A printing paper PS inlet 2b is provided on the upper surface of the printer frame behind the platen 2, and a printing paper PS discharge port 2c is provided on the upper surface of the printer frame above the platen 2. A carriage 5 on which a printing head 6 is mounted is supported in front of the platen 2 so as to be able to reciprocate along a guide shaft 3 and a guide rail 4 parallel to the platen 2.

The platen 2 is rotated by a predetermined amount in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a paper feed motor (not shown) to feed the paper.

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feeding device is removably mounted on the upper surface of the printer frame above the platen 2. As shown in FIG. In the frame 1 of the paper feeding device, a pull-out roller 11 is attached to a roller shaft 1 corresponding to the upper part of the printing paper outlet 2c of the printer frame.
When the pull-out roller 11 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the print paper printed on the platen 2 is removed.
PS is sent out outward from a drawer opening 13 on the frame 1. A paper loading section 14 is provided on the frame 1 in proximity to the drawer opening 13, so that the printed printing paper PS sent out from the pulling out opening 13 can be placed on this sheet loading section 14. .

Drive and driven feed rollers 15 and 16 that are in contact with each other are mounted on the frame 1 corresponding to the upper part of the printing paper inlet 2b of the print frame, and roller shafts 17 and 1.
A plurality of pairs are each rotatably supported in the axial direction of 8. A stock section 19 for storing single-cut printing sheets PS in a stacked state is provided on the frame 1 above the rear portions of the feed rollers 15 and 16. As will be described later, the printing sheets PS are loaded from above the stock section 19. The feed roller 15 one by one,
It is designed to be fed to the upper part of the 16-space.

A manual insertion slot 20 is formed on the frame 1 above the feed rollers 15 and 16, and one sheet of printing paper PS is manually inserted into the upper part between the feed rollers 15 and 16 from this manual insertion slot 20. I'm starting to be able to do it. A paper guide plate 21 made of a conductive metal plate is disposed within the frame 1 between the lower side of the manual insertion slot 20 and the stock portion 19, and is grounded as described later. A paper path is defined by the paper guide plate 21, with a first paper path 55 on the side of the stock section 19 and a second paper path 56 on the side of the manual insertion slot 20.

Next, the configuration of the stock section 19 and the device for feeding printing paper from there will be explained in detail.As shown in FIG. Possibly supported. On the roller shaft 22, a pair of left and right delivery rollers 23 are fitted and supported via sleeves 24 so as to be integrally rotatable and movable relative to each other in the left and right direction. are facing each other so that they can be contacted.

A recess 25 extending in the left-right direction is formed on the frame 1 below the rear of the roller shaft 22. In the recess 25, a pair of left and right paper support plates 26 constituting the stock section 19 are supported so as to be movable in the left and right direction, and a paper loading surface 26a is formed on their upper surface, and a paper mounting surface 26a is formed at the side end. The paper width regulating surface 26b is formed in an upright manner. A through hole 27 and a substantially U-shaped engagement portion 28 are formed in the paper width regulating surface 26b of both paper support plates 26, and this engagement portion 28 rotates relative to the sleeve 24 of each delivery roller 23. The paper support plates 26 and the paper support plates 26 can be moved in the left-right direction integrally with the feed roller 23 in accordance with the width of the printing paper PS.

A pressing member 29, which cooperates with the pinion 45 and constitutes a separating means, is mounted on both paper support plates 26 so as to sandwich the printing paper PS on the stock section 19 and to be located on the opposite side of the feed roller 23. Through hole 27
It is supported so as to be able to move up and down while being engaged with the edge of the opening, and leg pieces 29b are provided protruding from the lower surface thereof.
An operating shaft 30 is arranged on the frame 1 so as to be movable up and down so as to pass through the leg pieces 29b of both pressing members 29. When the operating shaft 30 is moved upward, both pressing members 29 are moved toward the delivery roller 23 and the printing paper PS is pressed against the delivery roller 23. In this state, the delivery roller 23 is moved to the first By rotating counterclockwise in the figure, the uppermost printing paper PS is fed through the first paper path 55 toward the upper part between the two feed rollers 15 and 16. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a transmission mechanism 31 is provided between the platen and the delivery roller 23. As shown in FIGS. To explain this transmission mechanism 31 in detail, the left end portions of the platen shaft 2a of the platen 2, the roller shaft 12 of the pull-out roller 11, the roller shaft 12 of the drive feed roller 11, and the roller shaft 17 of the drive feed roller 15 gears 32, 33, 3
4 are fitted and fixed, between the teeth 32, 33 and between the teeth 33,
Intermediate gears 35 and 36 are rotatably supported on the left side plate 1a of the frame 1 between the intermediate gears 34 and 34.
When the platen 2 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow P in FIGS. 1 and 2 due to the unidirectional rotation of the paper feed motor, the pull-out roller 11 and the drive feed roller 15 are rotated clockwise in FIG. , the platen 2 is moved to the first,
When the paper is rotated in the paper feeding direction shown by arrow Q in FIG.
is rotated counterclockwise in FIG.

As shown in FIG.
A gear 37 is fitted and fixed to the right end of the roller shaft 17 of the roller shaft 23 of the feed roller 23.
A gear 38 is fitted and supported on the right end portion of 2 so as to be relatively rotatable. Intermediate gears 39 and 40 coaxially integrally formed on the right side plate 1b of the frame 1 are rotatably supported via a support shaft 41 between the two gears 37 and 38, and one of the intermediate gears 39 3
7 is engaged. A switching lever 42 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 41, and an intermediate gear 43 that meshes with the gears 38 and 40 is rotatably supported at an intermediate portion thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the delivery roller 2
A pinion 45 is provided at both left and right ends of the roller shaft 22 of No. 3.
are fitted and fixed respectively. A spring clutch (not shown) is interposed between the gear 38 and the pinion 45 on the roller shaft 22, and transmits the rotation of the gear 38 in the direction of the arrow to the pinion 45.
2 and the delivery roller 23 are rotated. Both pinions 45 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
A rack body 47 having a latch portion 47a that meshes with the pinion 45 is disposed on the circumferential side of each rack body, and the operating shaft 30 of the pressing member 29 is connected and fixed at both ends to the lower part of the rack body 47.

When the platen 2 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow P in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gears 32 to 40, 4
Pinion 45 and delivery roller 23 via 3 etc.
is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and as the pinion 45 rotates, the rack body 47
is linearly moved upward, and the pressing member 29 is pressed and moved toward the delivery roller 23. When the platen 2 is rotated in the paper feeding direction shown by the arrow Q in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pinion 45 and the delivery roller 23 are rotated in the opposite direction to the arrows in FIGS. 45 and the gear 38 through the spring clutch, the rack body 47
is moved linearly downward, and the pressing member 29 is moved away from the delivery roller 23. Further, the printing paper PS is pressed against the delivery roller 23 by the pressing movement of the pressing member 29, and the printing paper PS is pressed against the feeding roller 23.
When the contact pressure between the PS and the feed roller 23 exceeds a certain level, the spring clutch is released and the gear 3
8 and the pinion 45 is cut off, and the pressing operation of the pressing member 29 is stopped.

Further, the switching lever 42 and the intermediate gear 43 on the switching lever 42 constitute a blocking mechanism 49 for connecting and blocking power transmission to the delivery roller 23. That is, when the switching lever 42 is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the intermediate gear 43 meshes with the gear 38 on the roller shaft 22, and the transmission mechanism 31 is in the connected state (automatic paper feeding state).
3, the intermediate gear 43 is disengaged from the gear 38 on the roller shaft 22, and the transmission mechanism 31 enters the cut-off state (manual paper feeding state).

As shown in FIG. 3, an operating piece 53 is formed protruding from the lower rear portion of the switching lever 42. As shown in FIG.
A detection switch 54 as a detector is provided on the right side plate 1b of the frame 1 so as to correspond to the operating piece 53.
is disposed and is opened and closed via the actuating piece 53 in accordance with the switching operation of the switching lever 42, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the connection and interruption state of the interruption mechanism 49.

Next, the configuration of the control circuit for controlling the operation of the paper feed motor 7 in the printer configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.The central processing unit (CPU) 61 constituting the control means for,
A read only memory (ROM) 62 and a random access memory (RAM) 63 are connected. The ROM 62 stores programs and the like for controlling the entire printer. For example, the number of pulses to be supplied to the paper feed motor in order to obtain a predetermined rotation angle in the opposite direction to the paper feed in the automatic paper feed switching state (the number of pulses supplied to the paper feed motor in the opposite direction to the paper feed (in which a pulse motor is used),
The number of supply pulses and the like for obtaining a predetermined rotation angle of the paper feed motor in the paper feed direction in a switching state between automatic paper feed and manual paper feed is stored.

The CPU 61 also has a paper feed switch 64 for starting paper feeding operation provided on the frame 1 and the detection switch 54 connected to the input interface 6.
5, and an activation signal from the paper feed switch 64 and a detection signal from the detection switch 54 are input to the CPU 61. Further, a paper feed motor is connected to the CPU 61 via an output interface 66 and a driver 67, and a drive or stop signal is output from the CPU 61 to the paper feed motor.

Next, the operation of the printer configured as described above will be explained. Now, in this printer, during the paper feeding operation to feed the printing paper PS onto the platen 2, the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is started under the control of the CPU 61.
When the paper feed switch 64 is turned on in step S1, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the detection switch 54 is turned on in the next step S2.
If the paper feed motor is switched to the automatic paper feeding state and the detection switch 54 is turned on, the paper feed motor is rotated in the opposite direction to the paper feed during printing in the next step S3, and the RAM 63 is rotated in the next step S3. It is determined whether or not the predetermined number of rotations stored in the rotation number has been reached, and the scan from step S3 to step S4 is continued until the rotation number has reached the predetermined number of steps.

As described above, when the paper feed motor is rotated in the opposite direction to the paper feed during printing and the platen 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow P in FIGS. 1 and 2, the feed roller 23 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. It is sent out and rotated. Also,
With the rotation, the rack body 47 is moved upward,
The pressing member 29 is pushed toward the feed roller 23, and the printing paper PS is pushed toward the feed roller 23.
Pressed to 3. Therefore, the topmost sheet of printing paper PS on the stock section 19 is sent out through the first paper path 55 towards the upper part between the pair of feed rollers 15 and 16. At this time, since the driving feed roller 15 is rotated in the opposite direction to the feeding direction as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The leading edge of the printing paper PS is fixed at the contact point between both rollers without passing through the space between the rollers 16 and 16.

Then, the paper feed motor is rotated by a predetermined number of steps in the opposite direction to the paper feed during printing, and the first
As shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, both feed rollers 15,
When the printing paper PS on the printing paper 16 becomes slightly curved, the program proceeds from step S4 to step S5 shown in FIG. 5 under the control of the CPU 61. In this step S5, the paper feed motor is rotated in the paper feed direction during printing, and in the next step S6, it is determined whether or not the predetermined number of steps stored in the RAM 63 has been reached, and the paper feed motor is rotated until the predetermined number of steps is reached. The scan continues from step S5 to step S4.

As described above, when the paper feed motor is rotated in the paper feed direction during printing and the platen 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow Q in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive feed roller 15 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. The printing paper is rotated to
The PS passes between the two feed rollers 15 and 16 and is fed onto the platen 2. At this time, since the feed roller 23 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, the rack body 47 is moved downward, and the pressing operation of the printing paper PS against the feed roller 23 is released.
The feeding of the printing paper PS is not obstructed at all.
Once the pressing operation is released in this way, static electricity is hardly ever newly accumulated on the printing paper.

Then, when the paper feed motor is rotated by a predetermined number of steps in the paper feed direction during printing, and the printing paper PS is placed between the platen 2 and the print head 6 as shown by the broken line in FIG. The rotation of the paper feed motor is stopped and the paper feeding operation is completed. printing paper
Since the tip position of the PS has already been determined by the feed rollers 15 and 16, the printing start position is maintained constant by rotating the motor a predetermined number of steps. Thereafter, printing is performed on the printing paper PS on the platen 2 by the printing head 6, and the paper is fed by a predetermined amount by rotation of the platen 2 in the direction of arrow Q, and the printing paper PS is rotated by the rotation of the drawer roller 11. The ends are successively pulled out from the drawer opening 13 to the outside.

On the other hand, when determining step S2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the switching lever 42 is switched to the manual paper feeding state and the detection switch 54 is turned OFF, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. If the program is in step S3,
Skip S4 and proceed to step S5. Therefore, when performing printing by manually inserting a sheet of printing paper, the printing paper PS is inserted from the manual insertion slot 20 into the second paper path 5 as shown by the dashed line in FIG.
6, and then turn on the paper feed switch 64. In steps S5 and S6, the paper feed motor is rotated by a predetermined number of steps in the paper feed direction during printing. hand,
As the feed rollers 15 and 16 rotate, the printing paper
PS is fed onto platen 2.

Further, during this feeding operation, the intermediate gear 43 on the switching lever 42 is disengaged from the gear 38 on the roller shaft 22, and the transmission mechanism 31 is in a power transmission cutoff state, so that the rotation of the paper feeding remoter 7 is prevented from rotating. It is not transmitted to the shaft 22, and the delivery roller 23 and pressing member 29 are stopped. Therefore, no extra load is applied to the paper feed motor 7, and the printing paper
Manual insertion of PS can be performed smoothly.

The paper guide plate 21 and one contact of the detection switch 54 are connected to a ground terminal in the control circuit of the printer main body through a common conductor, and are grounded.

The printing paper PS sent out from the stock section 19 as described above comes into contact with the contact points of the feed rollers 15 and 16, and then is further fed out by a predetermined amount by the feed roller 23, resulting in two points shown in FIG. It curves as shown by the chain line and comes into contact with the paper guide plate 21 . When the leading edge of the printing paper PS is sent out from the stock section 19, it may come into contact with the guide plate 21 even before it comes into contact with the feed rollers 15, 16, but the above-mentioned curvature ensures that it comes into contact with the guide plate 21. The static electricity generated by the friction of the print sheet PS with the remaining sheets and the wall of the first sheet path as it is fed out is thereby removed through the conductive guide plate 21. In addition, the rotation of the drive feed rollers 15 and 16 eliminates the curvature of the printing paper PS.
The printing paper PS may be separated from the guide plate 21 depending on factors such as the quality of the printing paper PS (strength of straining). However, the feed roller 15
When the feeding of PS is started, the sending roller 23 is separated from the printing paper PS, so that no new static electricity is generated on the printing paper PS in that state, and the static electricity does not cause any problems. Paper PS inserted from the manual feed slot also
When drawn into the platen 2, static electricity generated by friction with the walls of the passage is removed.

Although the feed rollers 15 and 16 are provided on the frame side of the paper feeding device in the embodiment, they may be provided on the printer frame side, or one of the rollers may also be used as the platen. It is.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, static electricity can be removed from the slip sheet fed out by the feeding roller, so that malfunction of the recording device due to static electricity can be avoided. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of conductive wires, etc. that connect the recording device and paper feeding mechanism, which are configured separately, and reduce the complicated operations when attaching and detaching the two due to the increase in the number of conductive wires. obtain.

Further, in the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the cut sheet fed out by the feeding roller can be reliably brought into contact with the ground member.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a paper feeding device and printer embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partial left side view, Fig. 3 is a partial right side view, and Fig. 4 is a paper feed motor in operation. The control circuit diagram for control, FIG. 5, is a flowchart showing the paper feeding operation. In the figure, PS is paper, 15 and 16 are a pair of rollers, 1
9 is a stock section, 20 is a manual feed slot, 21 is a guide plate (earth member), 23 is a delivery roller, 29 is a pressing member, 55 is a first paper path, and 56 is a second paper path.
This is the paper path.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A storage unit that is configured separately from the main body of the recording device and stores cut sheets in a stacked state, and a feed unit that contacts the top surface of the cut sheets and feeds out the cut sheets one by one. A roller, a manual insertion slot into which a manually fed cut sheet can be inserted, and a sheet that is electrically connected to the recording device main body side and stored in the stock section and a manual insertion slot into which the cut sheet can be inserted. In a paper feeding mechanism of a recording device, the paper feed mechanism is equipped with a switch that detects whether to feed a cut sheet or a cut sheet. 1. A paper feeding mechanism for a recording apparatus, characterized in that one terminal of a grounding member and a switch is electrically connected to a grounding terminal of a main body of the recording apparatus through a common conductive wire. 2. The paper feed mechanism of the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ground member is attached to a side where the cut sheet curves and swells downstream of the feed roller. .